Method and apparatus for switching devices using near field communication

Abstract

An approach is provided for switching devices using near field communication by transferring services. A first device executes an online service. The first device initiates communication to a second device over a near field communication link during the execution of the online service to coordinate the transfer of information relating to the online service. The first device initiates the transfer of information relating to the online service to the second device for execution of the online service by the second device based on the communication.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 executing an online service by a first device; 
 initiating communication, from the first device to a second device, over a near field communication link during the execution of the online service to coordinate the transfer of information relating to the online service; and 
 initiating the transfer of information relating to the online service to the second device based on the communication for execution of the online service by the second device independently from the first device. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating transfer, from the first device to the second device, of a first wireless communication identifier associated with the first device to the second device over the near field communication link; 
 receiving, by the first device, a second wireless communication identifier associated with the second device over the near field communication link; and 
 initiating establishment of a wireless connection link based on the first wireless communication identifier and the second wireless communication identifier. 
 
     
     
       3. A method of  claim 2 , wherein the transfer of information relating to the online service is over the wireless connection link. 
     
     
       4. A method of  claim 2 , wherein the online service is a voice session, the method further comprising:
 generating a request to transfer the voice session to the second device using the second wireless communication identifier; and 
 initiating transmission of the request to a platform configured to provide the online service. 
 
     
     
       5. A method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and/or the second wireless communication identifier includes one or more of a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number, an international mobile equipment identity, or a wireless pairing identifier. 
     
     
       6. A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating transmission of user data associated with the online service to a data platform for access by the second device; and 
 deactivating the first device after completion of the transfer of information relating to the online service. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the online service is provided via a data network from a service platform to the first device, and then the online service is provided via the data network from the service platform to the second device. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: execute an online service by the apparatus; 
 initiate communication, from the apparatus to a device, over a near field communication link during the execution of the online service to coordinate transfer of information relating to the online service; and 
 initiate the transfer of information relating to the online service to the device based on the communication for execution of the online service by the device independently from the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       9. An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 initiate transfer, from the apparatus to the device, of a first wireless communication identifier associated with the apparatus to the device over the near field communication link; 
 receive, by the apparatus, a second wireless communication identifier associated with the device over the near field communication link; and 
 initiate establishment of a wireless connection link based on the first wireless communication identifier and the second wireless communication identifier. 
 
     
     
       10. An apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the transfer of information relating to the online service is over the wireless connection link. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the online service is a voice session, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 generate a request to transfer the voice session to the device using the second wireless communication identifier; and 
 initiate transmission of the request to a platform configured to provide the online service. 
 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 receiving a communication request at a first device over a near field communication link, wherein the communication request is for coordinating a transfer of information relating to an online service that is executing on a second device; 
 accepting the communication request over the near field communication link; 
 receiving the transfer of information relating to the online service from the second device; and 
 initiating execution of the online service by the first device independently from the second device after completion of the transfer of information relating to the online service. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the first device, a first wireless communication identifier associated with the second device over the near field communication link; 
 initiating transfer, from the first device to the second device, a second wireless communication identifier associated with the first device over the near field communication link; and 
 initiating establishment of a wireless connection link based on the first wireless communication identifier and the second wireless communication identifier. 
 
     
     
       14. A method of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving of the transfer of information relating to the online service is over the wireless connection link. 
     
     
       15. A method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and/or second wireless communication identifier includes one or more of a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number, an international mobile equipment identity, or a wireless pairing identifier. 
     
     
       16. A method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the first device, a notice of availability of user data associated with the online service at a data platform; 
 generating a request for the user data; initiating transmission of the request for the user data over to the data platform; and 
 receiving, at the first device, the user data. 
 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive a communication request at the apparatus over a near field communication link, 
 wherein the communication request is for coordinating a transfer of information 
 relating to an online service that is executing on a device; accept the communication request, over the near field communication link; receive the transfer of information relating to the online service from the device; and initiate execution of the online service by the apparatus independently from the device 
 after completion of the transfer of information relating to the online service. 
 
     
     
       18. An apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 receive, by the apparatus, a first wireless communication identifier associated with the device over the near field communication link; 
 initiate transfer, from the apparatus to the device, a second wireless communication identifier associated with the apparatus over the near field communication link; and 
 initiate establishment of a wireless connection link based on the first wireless communication identifier and the second wireless communication identifier. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the receiving of the transfer of information relating to the online service is over the wireless connection link. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first and/or second wireless communication identifier includes one or more of a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number, an international mobile equipment identity, or a wireless pairing identifier. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 receive, by the apparatus, a notice of availability of user data associated with the online service at a data platform; 
 generate a request for the user data; 
 initiate transmission of the request for the user data over to the data platform; and 
 receive, at the apparatus, the user data.